Surya Bhagavaan

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Surya Bhagavaan

 

In the serene blue sky the eternal star that sheds its light in the morning is the Sun. The solar light tones dam to a pleasant moon light in the nights. Nearly eight thousand stars can be seen with the naked eye at night.

 

Surya according to Vedas:

 

Sankarshana is the manifestation of Vasudeva Para Brahma. Sankarshana fathered Aniruddha. Vasudeva and Sankarshana are beyond form whereas Aniruddha is imperceptible. He is referred to as Hiranyagarbha in the Vedas. As he is the primordial form, he is also worshipped as Aaditya, Savithaa and Paranjyothi. These are the different names that go to describe effulgent Sun. Hiranyagarbha resides in the orb of rigveda whose beams are said to be the Saamaveda, the form of Yajurveda.

 

 

The god who adorns vedas is also worshipped as time. He is said to have made the whole universe as his chariot and rides on the wheel of year with the seven types of vedic metres(Sapta chandas) as horses.

 

Hiranyagarbha created Brahma who in turn created the universe. As he started creating the universe, moon emerged out of his mind and sun from his eyes. Later the five elements surfaced. From fire came Angaaraka(Mars), earth issued out Budha (Mercury), sky surfaced out Brihaspathi (Jupiter), water gave out Sukra (Venus) and air brought in Shani (Saturn). Later the circle of sky was divided into 12 zones presided over by the zodiac signs. Lord Brahma manifested himself into 27 stars (Nakshatraas).

 

Surya according to Puraanaas:

 

More information about Surya can be found in Brahmaanda puraana, Markandeya puraana, Rgveda, Uttara Ramayana, Kashi Khanda and Mahabharata. Surya was born to Kashyapa Prajaapathi, one among Navabrahmas and Aditi, a celestial maiden.

 

According to Markandeya puraana, Surya is considered as the creator, the Brahma. From this ancient supreme god the whole world evolved. He is looked upon as the creator, the sustainer and the destroyer of the whole universe. Surya is the chief among the Navagrahaas.

 

When the cosmic egg cracked in, to give birth to Brahma, there was Pranava Naada or Omkara flowing out of his mouth and filling the whole world. Surya is considered to be the physical version of Omkara. Surya shines with the effulgence of the vedas and Omkaara. Surya born out of Aditi’s womb (Aaditya) is also looked upon as a rescuer of gods who were humiliated by the demons.

 

Form and nature of Surya: The red-coloured Surya sits on a lotus holding two lotuses in his two hands. He shines brightest with a gold coronet and a necklace of diamonds round his neck. His chariot is run on a single wheel with seven horses. He climbs up the chariot and moves round the Meru Parvata driven by his charioteer Anoora. Lord Hanuman and Yaagnyavalkya learnt veda from Surya. Surya is married to Sangnya Devi, the daughter of Viswakarma the legendary architect. Vaivaswatha Manu was born to Surya. Sangnya Devi could not stand the celestial splendour of Surya and shut her eyes. Angered at this gesture, Surya cursed his wife that she would give birth to a child who would control life. Then Yama was born. Later when she had cast a capricious look on Surya, she gave birth to a shifty, capricious girl child Yamuna. Later as his wife flees in fear leaving her shadow behind. Thus Chaaya, the other name for Sangnya Devi, gave birth to Sani ( Saturn), Saavarni and a daughter Tapati. Surya comes to know that Sangnya Devi is in hiding and he approaches in the form of a horse. There Aswini devataas or the physicians of paradise, as they are described, are born. Brahma makes an effort to reduce the splendour of Surya and through the light shed out, Vishnu’s chakra, Siva’s shoola and the conches of Ashtavasuvus are made. At the instance of Surya’s sign, Vishnu mutilates Rahu during the distribution of Elixir and he emerges as Rahu and Ketu to devour Surya during the solar eclipse.

 

Among Lord Shiva’s three eyes, one of them is Surya. Surya is the friend of Lotuses. Surya fathered Vashistha, Sugreeva and Karna.

 

SURYA IN ASTROLOGY

Surya presides over Leo in zodiac sign. He resides in each zodiac sign for a month and thus travels all the 12 signs in a year. The twelve spokes of his chariot wheel signify twelve months. It is believed that sixty thousand Vala Khilya sages walk behind his chariot chanting Swasthi vachanaas, while a whole range of celestial Rishis, Gandharvaas, Apsaraas and Naagaas, Yakshaas worship him. Lord Surya adorns disc, whip goad and mace as his weapons.

 

SURYA-MODE OF WORSHIP

In any horoscope, Surya reigns over a period of six years. To appease the lord, one should offer water (Arghya). Surya likes ruby, one of the nava ratnas. It is also important to donate wheat to appease the Sun god. If cow with a calf, jaggery, copper, gold and red coloured clothes are donated, they ward off the malefic influence of the Lord. To pacify the Sun god, it is required to chant the mantra 6,000 times or Aditya Hridayam of Valmiki. Chanting the Suryaashtaka Stotra will keep diseases off. During the Surya Dasa, it is advisable to donate golden lotus. Surya hora is said to be favourable time to perform surgeries. He is bestower of good health. The Surya Mahaa Mantra’s Beejaaksharaas run thus:

 

‘OM HRAAM, HREEM HROUM SAHA SURYAAYA NAMAHA’

 

Rudraabisheka, a Ruby studded ring and homam with Jilledu (Calotropis) samidhas is efficacious to appease the Lord. Surya Namaskaaras are a valuable imperative to promote good health.

 

Surya favours red clothes, red sandal powder and red flowers. In the nine-planets galaxy, Surya is positioned East ward. Surya was said to be the lord of Kalinga desha, born into Kasyapasa gotra in Prabhava, Maghamasa on the seventh day of the full moon on Sunday with Aswani as the birth star (zodiac sign-Leo). Surya is worshipped on this day of Ratha Sapthami with an offering of sweet rice made out of milk, sugar and rice.

 

The seven colours that emanate from the Sun are the VIBGYOR, which are symbolically described as the seven horses of his chariot. This star is a potent source of life around and vitamin D is found in Sunlight. The Uttarayana or the first six months from January are considered to be auspicious when the Surya is said to be in Makara raasi. Those who breath their last during these six months, mythology says, go to heaven.

 

The entire stretch of India is dotted Surya temples beginning from Kashmir, Konark in Orissa, in Gujarat, Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu and Arasavilli in Andhra Pradesh. The Lord that shines above and bestows his grace on all life organisms is devoutly worshipped in India and abroad too to attain all round prosperity.